CIMA MCS – Course Schedule

Fitting your studies into your everyday and working life can be difficult. For this reason we have created a rough schedule for you to base your revision around before your exam.

It’s a good idea to create your own personalised revision plan based on the key learning areas included in this schedule, however, there are some dates that you will need to include in order to meet the requirements for the course pass guarantee, including the mock exam deadlines.

March 2024

Monday 25th March:

Official course start date

While waiting for the release of the pre-seen later this week, take some time to create a plan for your studies over the next few weeks. Use the course schedule here to help create this plan. It can also be helpful to take a look through some of the course material such as the exam guide and theory revision guide to get a feel for the course.

Download the pass guarantee form as you’ll need to complete this as you’re going through your studies. (Please note this is not needed for subscription of FLP students).

 

Wesnesday 27th March: 

Pre-seen release day

Work your way through our pre-seen materials as follows:

  • Pre-seen analysis videos
  • Strategic analysis videos
  • Top 10 issues video
  • Industry pack video

Read through the industry analysis pack steadily over the next few weeks. It’s mostly background reading to build industry knowledge. However, it would be useful to learn some industry examples prior to your first mock exam so you can start to include some in your answers. Post your questions about the pre-seen on our MCS discussion group – our MCS tutor will aim to respond within 1 working day.

April 2024

Sunday 7th April - Friday 12th April:

Exam technique

Go through the exam technique series to learn what it takes to pass this exam. During this stage, make sure to undertake the writing and planning exercises too. This is the most important part of the week – the exercises start to ingrain good exam technique that watching videos alone will never do! Post questions on our course discussion forum. It’s crucial that you clarify any areas of confusion at this early stage.

Saturday 13th April (9am-12 midday):

Attend masterclass 1:

The class will ensure you're up to speed with the current pre-seen. It will give you a chance to ask questions and meet other students. Asking questions is key! Please do take the opportunity to clarify any issues you currently have.

Watch the full recording if you are unable to attend on the day.

Sunday 14th April – Friday 19th April:

Theory and the Case Study exam

The theory week – work with the theory revision series.

The theory revision series is a set of texts and videos that contain all of the key information from our E2, F2 and P2 texts. This series particularly focuses on those areas most relevant to the Case Study, saving you time and helping you focus on application to the pre-seen.

You’re unlikely to be able to revise everything prior to your exam, so the key this week is to identify the topics you feel you most need to review. 

Aim to go through other sections of the theory revision series over the next few weeks, recapping key areas of theory and focusing on any areas of weakness that come out of the mock exams.

Remember to apply the theory you revising to the pre-seen company and think about how the theory would apply to the company. 

Note, the theory isn’t where your main study time should be spent so don’t excessively focus on this area.

Wednesday 17th April:

Your MCS marker will be assigned

On, or before, this day, an email will be sent out to you with details regarding the assigning of your marker. They’ll be there to support you through the next few weeks of your studies.

Saturday 20th April (9am-1pm):

Attend masterclass 2

This will recap the key learnings to date in the videos and give you a chance to ask questions and meet other students. Asking questions is key. Please do take the opportunity to clarify any issues you currently have.

Watch the full recording if you are unable to attend on the day.

Sunday 21st April:

Mock 1 deadline 

Mock 1 deadline – Complete mock exam 1 and send it to your marker.

It is vital that even at this early stage, you complete this in the allocated time.

Time management is a key challenge in this exam, and you need to learn to work quickly early on in the process – you won’t suddenly speed up in the last week!

Don’t be tempted to read any solutions before the exam – make it a real exam test – that’s the best way to learn. 

Monday 22nd April – Wednesday 24th April:
Ethics

Ethics is THE MOST COMMONLY EXAMINED TOPIC in this exam. You must master this subject if you are going to pass.

Watch the video and then practise 5-6 questions.

Use the remaining questions as practice over the next few weeks whenever you get a chance.

Thursday 25th April - Saturday 27th April:

Review mock feedback

Review mock 1 feedback when returned by marker and create a list of the key points you will commit to improve on prior to the next mock.

Study our mock 1 solutions so you can pick up key learning points. Review any theory that was a clear weakness.

Re-write sections of mock 1 that you did poorly on applying the feedback given. This is crucial and often ignored.

Use extra time to do ethics pack questions, recap on the course and pre-seen videos and review key theory.

Sunday 28th April:

Mock 2 deadline 

Mock 2 deadline – Complete mock exam 2 and send it to your marker.

It is vital that even at this early stage you complete this in the allocated time.

Time management is a key challenge in this exam and you need to learn to work quickly early on in the process – you won’t suddenly speed up in the last week!

Don’t be tempted to read any solutions before the exam – make it a real exam test – that’s the best way to learn. 

Tuesday 30th April

Exam booking closes

Today is the last day you'll be able to book your May MCS exam slot. Make sure you book your exam before this date!

May 2024

Thursday 2nd May - Saturday 4th May:

Review mock feedback

Review mock 2 feedback when returned by marker and create a list of the key points you will commit to improve on prior to the next mock.

Study our mock 2 solutions so you can pick up key learning points. Review any theory that was a clear weakness.

Re-write sections of mock 2 that you did poorly on applying the feedback given. This is crucial and often ignored.

Use extra time to do ethics pack questions, recap on the course and pre-seen videos and review key theory.

Saturday 4th May (9am-1pm):

Attend masterclass 3

This will recap the key learning’s to date in the videos and give you a chance to ask questions and meet other students. Asking questions is key, please do take the opportunity to clarify any issues you currently have.

Watch the full recording if you are unable to attend on the day.

Sunday 5th May: 

Mock 3 deadline 

Mock 3 deadline - complete mock exam 3 and send to your marker.  

Thursday 9th May - Saturday 11th May:

Review mock feedback

Review mock 3 feedback when returned by marker and create a list of the key points you will commit to improve on prior to the next mock.

Study our mock 3 solutions so you can pick up key learning points. Review any theory that was a clear weakness.

Re-write sections of mock 3 that you did poorly on applying the feedback given. This is crucial and often ignored.

Use extra time to do ethics pack questions, recap on the course and pre-seen videos and review key theories.

Wednesday 15th May - Friday 17th May:

Exam week

Ideally take a few days off work prior to the exam and spend the majority of that time re-doing the mocks under timed conditions.

Review the pre-seen again prior to the exam and learn key facts from that so you don’t need to look at the pre-seen in the exam. 

Learn all 25 industry examples from the industry pack.

Recap any key theory on which you think you are weak. Do not make this the key focus of your last few days though – it’s practise that is key at this stage for case study exams.

Take the exam – go in with a positive attitude. Following this plan should put you in an excellent position to pass.

Rest - AND then take a huge sigh of relief after your exams and take a few weeks of well deserved rest! 

 

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